On Sunday night against the Suns, Warriors rookie Patrick McCaw registered six points, two rebounds, a steal and two blocks in about 18 minutes of action.
"From Day 1, you could tell that Pat knows how to play the game," Steph Curry told reporters recently. "He played really well in those two or three preseason games where he really had a huge impact -- making the right plays, scoring the ball, defensively. And then (against Phoenix), another opportunity where he got on the floor and just confident on both ends of the floor.
"That's why he's out there. He's got a very quiet confidence about him. He doesn't say much but he knows he belongs here, so that's huge."
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As a freshman at UNLV, McCaw averaged 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting just over 40 percent from the field.
As a sophomore, he increased those numbers to 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals per contest, while shooting over 46 percent from the floor.
Did the second year of college hoops help prepare him for the NBA?
"Oh yeah, definitely," McCaw told KNBR 680 on Tuesday. "The second year elevated my game tremendously. My freshman year I really wasn't highly touted. I didn't start really playing until mid-season.
Golden State Warriors
"I've always been a learner and a thinker of the basketball game. It's not always about how athletic you are or how talented you are. But if you really understand and know the game, and know how to play the right way, that second year (of college) helped me grow into a more intelligent player."
[REWIND: Jerry West: 'People are gonna be sorry they didn't draft McCaw']
The Warriors entered the 2016 draft without a second-round pick, but paid the Milwaukee Bucks $2.4 million for the rights to McCaw at No. 38 overall.
McCaw sprained his ankle in Golden State's second game of the season, and was inactive the next four games.
Over his last three appearances, he's averaging 6.3 points over 17.5 minutes.
He knocked down two 3-pointers against the Suns.
"I was open though, so if I'm open I'm going to shoot the ball," McCaw said. "But other than that, I'm looking to make the right pass.
"They get on me if I turn down shots. If the shot's there, they want me to take it. When that's my mindset and they also want me to take those shots, you gotta be willing and ready.
"That makes me more confident so when I'm open and I have the opportunity to score the ball, the guys want me to score."
What about his defense?
"Transitioning from college to the NBA, I'm starting to realize when and when not to go for steals," McCaw explained. "I've always been a ball hawk and that's kind of been my M.O. But in the NBA, you can't really get out of position because the floor is really spaced.
"You put your team in a bad position if you gamble or go for a steal. So you just gotta know the right time, when and when not to go. And the coaches have been helping me out.
"I've watched a lot of film, and just making sure that I'm making the right reads."